We sat at the Chef's 34-seat dining counter facing the open kitchen, which I highly recommend. We…read moreenjoyed watching the chefs work with such precision and hearing their "Yes, Chef" responses throughout the evening. There are also smaller tables around the restaurant, but you would miss much of the theater of watching the chefs at work. Another advantage of sitting at the counter was the remarkable pacing: as we finished our plates, they were often cleared within seconds and the next course arrived within minutes.
In addition to the Miami Spice menu, there was a four-course seasonal Summer Menu, which we ordered, and an eight-course Evolution Menu, all with optional wine pairings. The Miami Spice and Evolution had fixed courses.
For each of the four courses on the Summer Menu, we had several choices. There were also additional courses, including bread and butter, a foie gras starter with Parmesan foam, and a cantaloupe sorbet palate cleanser. Since we were celebrating our anniversary, we were also presented with a stunning raspberry and white chocolate heart dessert to share.
I normally avoid foie gras out of compassion for the goose, but there wasn't an alternative offered. I have to admit, however, that this one was delicious. The essence of Maury "Vieilles Vignes" gave it a faint caramel-like flavor that paired beautifully with the richness of the foie gras. And the hot cheese bread is not to be missed. One bite with the softened, creamy butter and I was already thinking, "Okay, I'm glad I came."
For our first courses, we both chose the Japanese hamachi with toasted almond emulsion and winter citrus. It was beautifully presented and a light, gentle way to begin.
For the second course, I ventured further outside my usual comfort zone with the Japanese sea urchin, served with onion custard, asparagus, and coffee essence, while my husband chose the leeks braised in wasabi with radish, dill, and egg yolk. After snorkeling and seeing sea urchins in their natural habitat, I appreciated the opportunity to finally taste a really good one. The leeks were also amazing.
I was still a little hungry when we reached the main course, but that was about to change. I chose the olive oil-poached halibut with clam-vermouth broth and a spring vegetable bouquet. My husband had the Mediterranean branzino with lemon balm emulsion, crème fraîche, and a caviar-stuffed tomato.
The halibut was an exceptionally delicate fish in a light and genuinely delicious broth. I had been worried the clam-vermouth broth might taste overly fishy, but it didn't at all, and I savored every drop. The signature mashed potatoes served alongside the meal were decadently rich, buttery, and filling.
For dessert, we both chose Le Chocolat Sensation -- Guanaja chocolate crémeux with white chocolate ice cream and Oreo cookie crumble. It arrived beneath a beautiful, thin disk of chocolate concealing the chocolate, cookie crumble, and ice cream below. If you had any hunger remaining, it was certainly cured by this point. Our anniversary raspberry and white chocolate heart complemented the flavors beautifully and made for a lovely photograph and memory of the evening.
Our waitstaff, including Oriana, was absolutely outstanding. Service was attentive and polished and each dish was carefully introduced as it arrived. Combined with the extraordinary choreography of the open kitchen, the pacing made the entire dinner feel seamless.
This was our first two-Michelin-star restaurant in the United States, and I'm glad we experienced it. It wasn't simply dinner; sitting at the Chef's counter gave us a front-row seat to the precision, creativity, and teamwork required to produce food at this level.
